Give the Gift of Moments this Christmas

If there is one thing good about this pandemic, it is more time shared with the family. The year 2020 is almost coming to an end and Christmas is in a few weeks. If you are still looking for that perfect Christmas gift, then search no more. I would say that one of the best gifts you can give your loved ones this Christmas are those beautiful moments.

Start or Continue Family Baking Traditions

The holiday season is the perfect time to bake Christmas cookies. So heat up your oven and get those pins rolling. Wrapped in nice tins or clear bags, they are always a hit for the young and old. And you can never have too much cookies.. Paired with coffee, tea or hot chocolate and your Christmas cookies are gone in no time.

Photo Prints and Books

In this digital world, most of us have tons of photos stored in our phones, in our hard drives, even in CDs. We, more often than not, forget about them and they are just there, as digital files waiting or perhaps craving for attention. Why not make prints out of them and put them up on your wall or better yet make photobooks out of them? There will always be something special about printed photos. They immortalize your memories and those important moments of your life

Send out Christmas Cards

I love receiving greeting cards on the mail. This is the time, more than ever, to be sending out Christmas cards to families and friends. To remind them that despite not seeing them for months, they are thought of and are loved. 

With the restrictions for parties and gatherings, it is a challenge for families to celebrate Christmas with our big circle of family and friends. We must be careful, be patient, be understanding of the times, so that we can all see each other again, giving out hugs and shaking hands. But until then, let us continue to be careful and stay healthy. So we can also share more moments with family and friends. 

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Baby Photography Services in Hospitals

I have always wondered how they are able to take studio photos of days-old newborn babies when generally, mommies will not expose their newborns to places outside of their homes when not necessary. Then I got answer when I let our little one have her photoshooting right at my hospital bed when she was 2 days old. :)

Yes, hospitals offer this photoshooting service and they have an "in-house" professional photographer who magically turns your hospital bed into a photo studio for your little one, complete with all the accessoires the baby might need for the shoot. In a small trolley, they have lots of props available for baby girls, boys and twins.

 

And the photoshooting takes just about 30-60 minutes depending on the baby's mood. Because they are still newborns, they don't really move a lot so this makes it easier to photograph them. Be sure that your baby is fed though so they are in a good mood or asleep during the shoot. There is also no need to those blinding studio lights as natural light can very well do the trick.

And in this time of the pandemic, the photographer has to follow hygiene protocols, wearing of masks included!

The photoshooting in itself is free and you get some freebies from the hospital composing of a bib cloth, a welcome video, a digital print of one of the photos from the shoot, and a photo of the baby published on the hospital's website. Parents have the option to buy prints among others. Depending on which package you choose, I would say the photoshooting service is worth it. You would want to capture these moments of your tiny little baby and distribute prints to family and friends. As for me, I just ordered the CD and digital copy of all the photos. And with the pandemic, you would like to restrict and limit visitors so sending them the first photos of your child is one of the best and safe options.

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Back It Up!

I love to take photos every now and then, my daughter being my most favorite subject. You can just imgaine how much disk space my high-resolution photos alone have taken up in our hard drive. Being in an electronic medium, there is always the risk that it will be deleted or worse wiped out when it is necessary to format hard drive. Since our desktop acts up once in a while, my husband always tells me to save these priceless photos in our trusty external hard drive or to make back up copies in CDs.  Because really, you never can turn back time and you never can recreate exactly the same memories. 

I think I better take some time to select some of these priceless photos and have them printed. These priceless photos will remain unknown unless I print them, and place them in photo albums to share with family and friends. I also need to work on my photobook projects one day soon. I wish I have some more time in my hands...

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My Lil Girl's Origami Bird

As I was fetching my little girl from the Kindergarten today, she showed me a purple origami bird with a green-colored feather for a tail. I thought that it was really cute and I asked her who made it. She said she made it herself. One of the practicants showed her and the other kids how to do it.

When we got home, I asked her to show me how it was done and she gladly obliged. I couldn't believe that she actually remembered how it was made, at least the first few parts. I am really impressed! Looks like my little girl has a very good memory. I guess I will have to teach some more simple origami so that she can show her friends how it's done.

Here's a video that I made while she was making her origami bird. Vogel pronounced as "foo-gel" means bird. Apologies to those who cannot understand German.

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Model For A Day

So the photos are out, on Facebook I mean! And I want to share them with you guys too! Thilo Bruehl (our kind and very accomodating photographer) gave us a CD of all the raw photos in JPEG format plus an edited 40cm x60cm fine print that is yet to be collected at the studio.

These photos are fresh from the studio. And when I say fresh, it meant unedited. Well, except for the part just below the right corner of my daughter's lower lip, which I had to Photoshop to remove a small patch. She unfortunately had cold sore and was still under medication on her appointment date. We couldn't cancel because Thilo is a busy man...

So here are some shots that I love:

My little girl is wearing dresses which we bought using the money she received on her birthday. In the first two photos, she is wearing United Colors of Benetton. In the third, she is wearing Staccato and in the fourth, she is wearing S. Oliver Kids. Thanks to her generous sponsors!

These photos will also go in my next Photobook project. Which photo is your favorite?

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Model For A Day

We bought a Groupon gift certificate last year for a kids photoshooting. I was able to have an appointment for my little princess yesterday and since it was her first time to be shot by a professional photographer, hubby and I took the time off and accompanied her. Since it will be her first time for a photoshooting with a professional photographer, we told her that if she did very well and listened to what the photographer says, we would treat her to an ice cream cafe afterwards. I brought two more dresses with me so she can have a change of clothes. We also brought with us her unicorn stuff toy so she has something familiar to play with.

The studio was located in Stuttgart-Weilimdorf and is on the second floor. The studio sets weren't finished yet but it was huge and has lots of room to move around. It is equipped with modern facilies: a small kitchen with coffee machine, an office corner with computer cabinet and computer tables, a photo printer, books about photography, and fine prints of different photos taken by Thilo. Thilo (the photographer's first name) told us that they are planning to make three sets so that in the future, they can do three photoshoots simultaneously. 

My little girl was photographed on the white set and I can say that Thilo took his time with Samantha. He first made her feel comfortable by allowing her to play around the studio with a bobby car. Then he also served us coffee so we can lounge while he was setting up. He explained to us what will happen and told us that we will all take our time. He doesn't like rushed photoshoots and believes that the client's satisfaction and a glowing smile after the shoots is more important.

They did four themes: on the bobby car; with Lucy, the unicorn; dance and lastly, on the trampoline.

I can say that Samantha was having fun and was paying attention to Thilo, listening to what he wants her to do and posing for the camera... It is not all of the time though, since she got carried away during the dancing part. I think there was a little communication barrier since Samantha cannot understand everything yet. Plus, we don't speak straight German. Hehe! But overall, it went well. While they were photoshooting, hubby and I were watching and were laughing and smiling. It was a really happy experience for us.

The photoshoot took about two hours, longer than what we expected but really worthwhile. I am personally impressed with the results and cannot wait for Samantha's next photoshoot next year. We certainly will go back to Thilo... perhapy a family photo this time? We'll see...

P.S. I haven't published photos yet since I forgot to ask Thilo if it is okay to put a few on my blog but will update this post when I get his go signal. Happy Friday everyone!

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Gone Formal

It is nice to dress up for formal occasions once in a while. When an invitation to go to a Gala Dinner arrived, I was having second thoughts at first but then again, such events only happen once in a while, so why not? It is a Filipino event anyway so we wouldn't be bored, knowing that we have friends whom we can sit with at the table. The Gala Dinner, which was held last night at the Maritim Hotel in Stuttgart, was in honor of the Filipino Nurses who came here in Germany some forty years ago.

Since it was a formal occasion, we had to dress up for the event. I am not fond of wearing dresses and wearing make-up, and my husband is not a fan of suits and ties and leather shoes. I always feel awkward when I am wearing dresses but I guess once you are there, you realize that you need not be so self-conscious since everyone is wearing formal wear too.

Thankfully, a friend Aunt's daughter also came to the event and she helped me with my hair and make-up. I do not wear any make-up at all, nor do I have my own set of cosmetics so I was really null when it comes to putting on make-up. She applied gold eyeshadow on the corner of my eyes and also some mascara on my eyelashes. While she was putting on my make-up, I suddenly thought of women having very long eyelashes. I wonder if they are natural or they used products to grow them. My eyelashes are okay but should I want to have longer ones, I'd better read about eyelash growth products reviews. She also did my hair and braided both sides and tied it on the back of my head, Tibetan style. The make-up I can say was just light and good enough for the evening. I don't know what I would have done without her help. The make-up suddenly gave me a boost of self-confidence. Hehe!

It was a nice evening, with good music and Filipino folk dances. Dinner was also nice and delectable. The highlight of the event: the recognition of the Filipino nurses who have been serving the sick and the elderly for forty years now.

The night ended suddenly for us when our little Princess got exhausted and wanted to go home so she can sleep in our own bed. We went home exhausted but feeling nice about everything. It is not so bad to go formal once in a while after all. :)

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Coming Soon: Photoshoot at the Kindergarten

We got word from the kindergarten where my little girl attends that they will be having a photoshoot this coming Monday, June 6. They will be doing the pictorials at the garden / playground of the kindergarten, with "nature" as their background. I am sure it is going to be a fun activity and we are already excited about it.

We even ordered the entire portfolio which consists of the following: 1 13x18 cm size photo, 1 9x13 cm size photo, 4 passport size photos, 8 sticker photos and 1 group photo.

I hope that the photos will turn out just fine and that my little girl will have fun while their photos are being taken. This will be her first ever formal pictorial at the kindergarten and it will be a memento of her first year there. Some of her friends will be gone already to attend Grundschule or Elementary School this coming September so I hope they will also be included in the group photo.

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Mommy Moments: New Family Photos

Photos are an essential part of our life because they capture those moments that only at that moment existed. These photographs are reminders of those days gone by. That is why getting a family photo at least once a year is a big deal to me. I guess I am just one of those sentimental types. But what can I do? I am one sentimental person... and if there is anyTHING precious that I can hold on to in this world, that would have to be our photographs.

So here are our recent family snapshots:

Sinulog 2011

Christmas 2010

Laternefest 2010 at Samantha's Kindergarten

These are the two most precious people in my life and I would willingly trade the day just to be with them. Yes, we are not perfect and the days are not always good. But I feel complete when I am with them. I have no care in this world as long as I am with them. They're the reason why I always come rushing home after the last lecture is done, after I am done with my important errands.

Our family is a circle of strength and love…

With every birth and every union the circle grows…

Every joy shared adds more love…

Every crisis faced together

makes the circle grow stronger.

-source-

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The Southern French Countryside

Traveling by car has its benefits. It allows the traveler to see the beauty of the countryside, stop where he or she fancies stopping and stretch a little, and enjoy the ride. Although getting to the destination takes longer, the beauty that your eyes can feast on is worth it!

I find the countryside of the South of France very beautiful. With endless fields of wheat, sunflowers and of course vineyards and old towns and French country houses, everything is just beautiful. 

And because it is the summer season, you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery even later in the day. I may never know the names of the places where I took these photographs as we were passing through because I lost track. One thing is for sure though. These travel mementos are worth keeping. Which reminds me... I have to begin with our yearbooks lest I completely get busy when school starts.

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Photos, Photos, and more Photos

It has been a little over two days since my parents in law arrived here in Germany. They are trying their best to adjust to the time but they just can't help feeling tired and sleepy especially if it is already past 1:00PM here. And they would wake up at 2:00AM especially Tatay. He would even take a bath already at this hour! I guess they are slowly but surely adjusting to our time here and perhaps in three days, they will have already adjusted to our time zone.

To keep them from sleeping too much during the day, I would take them out for short walks or show them around the city. Last Friday, we went to downtown Stuttgart and Nanay and Tatay were no longer sleepy. We also took them to the Wilhelma Zoological Garden today and they enjoyed watching all the animals and flowers. I showed them the photos that I took since they arrived last Thursday. Good thing our BD player can read SD cards so that I was able to play a slideshow of all the photos. We enjoyed watching the photos and we are going to transfer them later into on CD so that they too will have their very own copy. We were planning to have the photos printed here but decided to have them printed in the Philippines instead because it is way cheaper there. Nanay could just select the photos from among the hundreds of photos that she want to have printed and place them in a photo album.

I know there will be more photos in the coming days. For now, I must make an itinerary to ensure that they get to see as much of Germany and the Schengen states and be able to capture all those wonderful memories on film, errr digital medium.

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Mommy Moments: RED!

RED is one of the colors that I like. I love it especially if someone like my Samantha wears this color especially in the holiday seasons. It simply looks good on her.

Here are some of my little one's latest photos in RED...

Playing with her wooden toys on a typical day.

The red carpeted stairs where she mastered her skills in climbing them.

Looks like she is all ready for school in her fuschia backpack and winter jacket.

And my favorite photo of her in RED when she was smaller...

Ain't she a darling?

Can't get enough of these REDs? Visit The Mommy Journey today for more kids in RED!

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Skeletons In My Photo Archives

What do you consider as photos that you'd rather hide? Are they the scary ones? Or the ones that make you look unpretty and unfabulous? Or are they the ones that make you look so big? Whatever they are, these are the ones that we would rather hide in our photo archives. It is fun to look at them once in a while though because they too have stories to tell.

If you are going to ask me which photos I'd rather hide, I have lots of them. Our external hard drive is filled with them. But I must take courage and finally join this week's theme since I already missed the first two.

So here it the most recent skeleton that took lots of courage to publish. No matter what you all would have to say, I guess I'll just have to look at it on the brighter side: at least I have entertained you all with my very ugly face.

I am sure Hubby will react once he finds out that I published this photo for everyone to see! LOL!

The story behind the photo: This was taken last year when we went to London. We just arrived at the London Bridge Train Station and while waiting for the tube to arrive, we Dad took this shot. I was already tired and it was raining the whole day during our sightseeing so that I really wasn't in the mood. The result? The photo above. I just look so ridiculously sour and ugly here! LOL! Blame it on London weather? Hihi!

How about you? Do you have skeletons in your Photo Archives too? Share it with us this week on Girls Talk! It's fun!

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Schloss Solitude

Schloss Solitude, or Solitude Palace is a small Rococo palace standing on the slopes of a hill. It was built for Prince Karl Eugene in 1763-67 who also took an active part in its design. The castle's design is the work of Pierre Louis de la Guêpière who introduced the Louis XVI-style to Germany. Many consider the palace to be his masterpiece.

The castle was fully restored in 1990 and following the provision of 45 residential studio apartments, it is now home of the Academy Castle Solitude and serves art students on scholarships from all over the world. The castle is connected to the residence castle in Ludwigsburg with a 13-kilometer long straight street. This can be seen via the northern main gate where the Solitudeallee also begins.

One can catch a view of Ludwigsburg from the castle. Once there, you would really feel the solitude that its name implies. There is a garden at the back of the castle and guests can go there for free. To have a tour of the castle though, you have to make a request and register.

It was still summer when we went there. The sun has just set at 8:00PM and these two planes seem to be racing against each other.

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Venice By Night

This post is long overdue! I know I should have shared this with you guys when the memory was still fresh and there was still excitement brewing inside me. Unfortunately, time and my pc were not on my side. So here I am posting this anyway. Hope you enjoy the photos!

I have posted snippets of our vacation in Italy last July here and here but these were all meme entries. I haven't gone into the details yet of how our vacation went and I am sure it is going to be a series of blog entries. So please bear with me. :D

Our first stop was Venice, Italy. It was almost dark when we arrived there and looking for a parking space delayed us even more. We had to leave our car for a few days at a parking building in Piazalle Roma, which serves as the main entrance to the City of Venice. Parking Fees came for a hefty price of €24 - €40 per day. It was that expensive! A TIP: If I were you, I would look for a cheaper parking in the outskirts of the city. You can just then take the train and get off at Sta. Lucia Railway Station where you will again board a Vaporetto (water bus) to your hotel.

The Venetian sunset as seen from the top floor of the parking building.

Smelling the salty breeze, seeing all those beautiful old buildings standing gloriously and proudly, and watching the water canals teeming with activity as if it were the most normal thing in the world awed and amazed me. Well, if you are in Venice, that would indeed be normal! :D Who would have thought that I would be able to set foot in my dream destination at this age? Well, I never would!

The Grand Canal as seen from Piazalle Roma. Notice the smaller canal farther?

And it was just beautiful! Despite the exhaustion of the long road trip, seeing Venice for the first time with the sun just about to set and night life slowly creeping in was all worth it! The warm air was beginning to cool down, and everybody seemed to have awakened because the restaurants, bars, cafes and shops were teeming with people! But alas, we were all too tired to join in the fun! Setting foot in Venice safely was enough for us. It had been a long day and we retreated in the cool sanctuary of our hotel room for a much needed rest.

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